What Titans receiver AJ Brown said about equaling 2019 drop total in last three games

When it came to the subject of drops, A.J. Brown wasn't about to drop the subject.

The second-year Titans receiver dropped the ball, though, Nov. 12. Twice, including an especially costly one during the first quarter.

His feet were approaching the Colts 40-yard line midway through the first quarter. The ball, picture perfectly placed on third-and-11 from Ryan Tannehill from the Titans 28, was approaching Brown's usually reliable hands.

Brown's eyes, though, were approaching the end zone. Brown ended up there after the play, sans ball, which he bobbled and tried to bat back to himself before the would-be 72-yard touchdown fell dead to the turf during that 34-17 loss, their third in four games.

It was the first of Brown's two drops during the game and his fourth in three games.

"I'm going to drop the ball," Brown said Friday as the Titans (6-3) prepare to play at the Ravens (6-3) on Sunday (Noon, CBS). "That's how it's going to go, but I'm definitely hard on myself when it comes to it. I try not to have any drops.

"Look at Larry Fitzgerald. I don't know when he had a drop last. He had a drop."

Brown is no Fitzgerald, considered to have some of the best hands the NFL has seen. But what can Brown do for the Titans? Plenty.

He was plenty good before his last drops.

Brown had zero through the first four games this season and just four in 16 games last season. His 478 receiving yards and 14.9 yards per catch are tops on the team. His six touchdowns are tied for first among receivers.

His 1,051 yards, 20.2 average and eight scores led the Titans last season.

Brown also leads the Titans in yards after catches with 214.

Brown had the empathy from Tannehill, who said, "having a drop is a terrible feeling." Tannehill does more than pass the ball, though; he tries to pass along reassurance in such instances.

"It’s a lot like missing a throw. It happens," Tannehill said. "The key is, is to be able to stop it ... and not let it hurt your confidence or become a pattern. Being able to move on from that one mistake and have confidence that, ‘I'm going to get the next one, no matter what.' I try to pass that along to those guys of, A, it's over, it's done with, move on, and make the next one."

Which is exactly what Brown tried to do against the Colts in the moment. Which is exactly what Brown intends to do going into Sunday's game. 

Same with the whole passing game. Tannehill threw for a season-low 147 yards against the Colts, just a few days after throwing for 158 against the Bears.

"The last couple of weeks we haven't been too good in the air," Brown said. "It is fair to say that. So making the most of the opportunities whenever I get the call. We're gonna get (Derrick) Henry the ball, let him do his thing. The run is going to open up the pass."

Brown said after the game he was "very upset" with himself but he knows it's important to remember to forget such plays — after he studies them.

"I look at it and see the angle of the ball and then I'm making sure I'm catching those angles. I'm making sure I do everything necessary to it doesn't happen again."

Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.